1937 / Lithograph / Image: 11 5/8”x15” / Various collections incl. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC
See also: February 13~ African-American visual artists
https://schristywolfe.com/2018/02/13/february-13-african-american-visual-artists/
The Blue Note Photographs of Francis Wolff~
http://si-siris.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-blue-note-photographs-of-francis.html
The Impossibly Cool Album Covers of Blue Note Records: Meet the Creative Team Behind These Iconic Designs~
http://www.openculture.com/2018/11/the-impossibly-cool-album-covers-of-blue-note-records.html
Cool, clear, collected~
http://www.eyemagazine.com/feature/article/cool-clear-collected
Previous July 15 posts:
Summer~ July 15
Artist Birthday Quiz for 7/15~
Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (1899-1974)
art: Tony Bennett
bio: http://www.dukeellington.com/ellingtonbio.html
video: https://youtu.be/cb2w2m1JmCY
Zubin Mehta (1936)
art: Boris Chaliapin for TIME
bio: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Mehta-Zubin.htm
video: https://youtu.be/1JgpsrQiewE
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Vivaldi.htm
Miriam Makeba (1932-2008)
https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/miriammakeba
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
https://schristywolfe.com/2015/03/01/frederic-chopin-born-february-22-1810/
Glenn Miller (1904-1944)
https://schristywolfe.com/2015/03/01/glenn-miller-born-march-1-1904/
Nancy Wilson’s musical style is so diverse that it is hard to classify. Over the years her repertoire has included pop style ballads, jazz and blues, show tunes and well known standards. Critics have described her as “a jazz singer,” “a blues singer,” “a pop singer,” and “a cabaret singer.” Still others have referred to her as “a storyteller,” “a professor emeritus of body language,” “a consummate actress,” and “the complete entertainer.” Then who is this song stylist (that’s the descriptive title she prefers) whose voice embodies the nuances of gospel, blues, and jazz? Her colleague and long time friend Joe Williams used to call her “the thrush from Columbus.”
FROM http://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/nancywilson
Please note: since we originally posted this, Nancy Wilson passed away, on December 13, 2018.
Joséphine Baker (June 3, 1906-April 12, 1975) was an American-born French entertainer, French Resistance agent, and civil rights activist.
“Baker flourished as a dancer in several Vaudeville shows, which was a popular theatre genre in the 20th century. She eventually moved to New York City and participated in the celebration of black life and art now known as the Harlem Renaissance. A few years later her success took her to Paris. Baker became one of the most sought-after performers due to her distinct dancing style and unique costumes. Although her audiences were mostly white, Baker’s performances followed African themes and style. In her famed show Danse Sauvage she danced across stage in a banana skirt. Baker was multitalented, known for her dancing and singing she even played in several successful major motion pictures released in Europe.“
FROM https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/josephine-baker
Official Site~ http://www.cmgww.com/stars/baker/
Speech at the March on Washington~http://www.blackpast.org/1963-josephine-baker-speech-march-washington
FBI files~ http://vault.fbi.gov/josephine-baker
A fine swing clarinetist, an altoist whose sound was influenced by Johnny Hodges, a good soprano saxophonist, and a spirited blues vocalist, Woody Herman’s greatest significance to jazz was as the leader of a long line of big bands. He always encouraged young talent and, more than practically any bandleader from the swing era, kept his repertoire quite modern. Although Herman was always stuck performing a few of his older hits (he played “Four Brothers” and “Early Autumn” nightly for nearly 40 years), he much preferred to play and create new music.
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/woody-herman-mn0000958076/biography
Ella Fitzgerald by Al Hirschfeld, 1993. Ink on board. Melvin R. Seiden CollectionIn mid 1936, Ella made her first recording. “Love and Kisses” was released under the Decca label, with moderate success. By this time she was performing with Chick’s band at the prestigious Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom, often referred to as “The World’s Most Famous Ballroom.”
Shortly afterward, Ella began singing a rendition of the song, “(If You Can’t Sing It) You Have to Swing It.” During this time, the era of big swing bands was shifting, and the focus was turning more toward bebop. Ella played with the new style, often using her voice to take on the role of another horn in the band. “You Have to Swing It” was one of the first times she began experimenting with scat singing, and her improvisation and vocalization thrilled fans. Throughout her career, Ella would master scat singing, turning it into a form of art.
FROM Ella Fitzgerald | Official Site~ http://www.ellafitzgerald.com/about/biography
Ella Fitzgerald at 100 (npr)~
http://www.npr.org/2017/04/25/524726767/early-hardship-couldnt-muffle-ella-fitzgeralds-joy
American Masters~
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/ella-fitzgerald-something-to-live-for/590/
21 Dazzling Photos Of Jazz Legend Ella Fitzgerald Over The Years
RARE PHOTO of Ella Fitzgerald Goes On Display at Smithsonian
The Misty Miss Christy 